HEADLINE NEWS • 1/5/06 • PAGE 2 of 4
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Penny Chenery receives Eclipse Award HEADLINE p. 4 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT BY FAX AND FREE BY E-MAIL TO SUBSCRIBERS OF call 732-747-8060. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2006 SHEIKH MAKTOUM DIES “It’s absolutely awful,” he told PA Sport. “We had Racing was left in mourning yesterday with the news hundreds of great horses--Cadeaux Genereux, Royal that the emir of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Applause, Fantastic Light, Hatoof, Shadeed, Shareef Maktoum died Wednesday in Australia, aged 62. One of Dancer--dozens and dozens of them. He really enjoyed the sport’s pre-eminent owner/breeders is believed to his racing. He knew what was going on and was a very have suffered a heart attack while visiting Australia’s good man to work for. He was a good loser and a good Gold Coast. “The United Arab Emirates has lost a his- winner. He had over 200 horses in training and a lot of torical leader who devoted his life to establishing the yearlings still to come in.” Others to pay respects yes- United Arab Emirates and enhancing its struc- terday included Dunlop, who trains from ture and the welfare of its people,” read a Sheikh Maktoum’s Gainsborough Stables in statement issued by the Dubai government. Newmarket. “It’s very sad news, primarily for Sheikh Maktoum, the eldest brother of the Sheikh Maktoum's family and all of Dubai,” he ruling family of Dubai, was quick to establish commented. “He was a wonderful man to his presence on the European racing scene in work for and most importantly, he was the the 1980s and set up the Gainsborough breed- one who gave me a chance. He will be sorely ing operation based in Newbury in England, missed.” Expressing the sentiments of many County Meath and Tipperary in Ireland and around racing, Coolmore’s John Magnier said, Versailles in Kentucky. Gainsborough was “It was with great regret that I learned of responsible for such luminaries as Fantastic Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum’s untimely Light, Lammtarra, Hatoof, Royal Applause death. He is a great loss, not only to his family (GB), Lailani (GB) and Sayyedati (GB). Sheikh and nation, but also to world racing. A great Maktoum, who was the vice-president and lover of the Thoroughbred racehorse, he en- Sheikh Maktoum joyed much success over the years both as an prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, (1943-2006) later enjoyed major success with the exploits Haider Shah/AFP/Getty Images owner and breeder under the Gainsborough of the top-class sprinter and sire Green Desert, Stud banner and also through his involvement Cadeaux Genereux (GB) and Shamardal. Among his in the hugely successful Godolphin operation. He made trainers were Ed Dunlop and Sir Michael Stoute, while a lasting and important contribution to racing, not least in France he enjoyed a lucrative partnership with in Ireland, and it is the poorer for his passing.” Born in Criquette Head-Maarek and in the United States with 1943, Sheikh Maktoum was highly instrumental in Neil Drysdale. In 1992, the Maktoum family formed helping his father Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Godolphin, the international racing operation which has to develop the emirate and its infrastructure. He worked already won 124 Group 1 races in 11 countries. in concert with his brothers Sheikh Mohammed and “Sheikh Maktoum’s death is a huge loss to Dubai, but Sheikh Hamdan to support Sheikh Rashid through ill- also to the world of horse racing,” said Godolphin Rac- ness in his latter years and became ruler upon his fa- ther’s death in November 1990. The Maktoum broth- ing Manager Simon Crisford. “He was at the very cen- ers’ continued revolution of Dubai has seen it become ter of everything Godolphin has achieved. It was Sheikh one of the world’s major business and sports locations, Maktoum who decided that horses should be trained in with the Dubai World Cup having grown as an interna- Dubai to run in the top international races. Along with tional focus in the horse racing community. He will be Sheikh Mohammed, he set up Godolpin. He was the buried at Umm Hurira graveyard in Bur Dubai tomorrow, one who chose the blue silks our horses carry and he and an official mourning period of 40 days has been was involved in all key decisions affecting the stable. declared. Government offices will be closed for seven Our thoughts are with the Maktoum family at this very days. The Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed, sad time.” Joe Mercer, his British racing manager for 19 has immediately succeeded his brother as the emirate’s years, was among the first to pay tribute yesterday. ruler. www.hillndalefarms.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 1/5/06 • PAGE 2 of 4 TRIBUTES TO SHEIKH MAKTOUM GROUP/GRADE I WINNERS Bill Oppenheim, Bloodstock Columnist “I had the privilege to work as a pedigree advisor to bred or raced by Sheikh Maktoum Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Gainsborough Farm for nine years, between 1988- Horse Sire 1996. We got lucky right off the bat, by sending a little Always Loyal Zilzal Lyphard mare, Cadeaux d'Amie, to Irish River (Fr) for Among Men Zilzal her first mating. The result was Hatoof, a real star who Anabaa Danzig won the English 1000 Guineas at three, the Dubai Balanchine Storm Bird Champion S. at four (defeating stablemate Ezzoud-- Cadeaux Genereux (GB) Young Generation (GB) I seem to remember cashing a big exacta bet that day) and the Beverly D. at five. We had some other big Court Masterpiece (GB) Polish Precedent successes at Gainsborough, including Sayyedati, for his Ezzoud (Ire) Last Tycoon (Ire) good friend, Mohammed Obaida; Lammtarra; and Fan- Fantastic Light Rahy tastic Light. Favourable Terms (GB) Selkirk It was a privilege, too, to work with people like Mi- Golden Snake Danzig chael Goodbody, Joe Mercer and Allen Kershaw. Green Desert Danzig I also had the good fortune to visit Dubai several times Hatoof Irish River (Fr) during that era, and to marvel how Sheikh Rashid's Hula Angel Woodman sons, led by Sheikh Maktoum, have translated his and Iktamal Danzig Connection their vision into a world-class city. As is their tradition, I Irish Prize Irish River (Fr) always found Sheikh Maktoum and his family to be the most gracious hosts, and fantastic people to work for. Labeeb (GB) Lear Fan In spite of his extremely busy schedule, Sheikh Lailani (GB) Unfuwain Maktoum took an active interest in the matings and Lammtarra Nijinsky II other pedigree issues, and was always interested to Lend a Hand (GB) Great Commotion (GB) hear one's views and reasons about the issues that Loving Claim Hansel were raised. They asked me out once to get an Ameri- Musical Chimes In Excess (Ire) can view of the prospective racing program when Nad Petit Loup Danzig Al Sheba was just getting going. At the time, the Pick Royal Applause (GB) Waajib (GB) Six was really going strong in America, and we some- Sayyedati (GB) Shadeed how figured out a way where the racegoer was given a chance to pick all the evening's winners, and all those Shadeed Nijinsky II that did went into a draw for a new Mercedes, or the Shamardal Giant’s Causeway like. Shareef Dancer Northern Dancer Even after I had finished working for him, I would Soviet Line (Ire) Soviet Star always get a friendly wave and handshake from Sheikh Steamer Duck Bering (GB) Maktoum when we would see each other at the races. Storming Home (GB) Machiavellian He was a tremendous sportsman and gentleman, not at Touching Wood Roberto all standoffish, and quick to smile and laugh. I'm grate- Touch of the Blues (Fr) Cadeaux Genereux (GB) ful for being able to know and work with him, and I'll miss seeing him at the races this year.” Stallion Open House Saturday January 7 & Sunday January 8 10AM - 2PM at the Lane’s End Stallion Complex Inspect any of our stallions at your convenience, including our latest arrivals SAINT LIAM, ROCK HARD TEN, WANDO and MINGUN. Box 626, Versailles, KY 40383 (859) 873-7300 FAX (859) 873-3746 E-MAIL: [email protected] www.lanesend.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 1/5/06 • PAGE 3 of 4 Tributes to Sheikh Maktoum cont. WEEKEND PEDIGREE Nick Nicholson, Keeneland President “Sheikh Maktoum leaves a tremendous legacy as a PERSPECTIVES visionary leader in the worldwide Thoroughbred indus- by Alan Porter try. He strived for only the best for his horses and in his racing and breeding operations, and the international MORE ON THE MODERN THOROUGHBRED Thoroughbred community has been the beneficiary of In Tuesday’s column, Andrew Caulfield referred to Bill those high standards. He was a great friend to Finley’s “What’s Wrong With the Modern Thorough- Keeneland, and to all of Central Kentucky. His leader- bred” Writer’s Up piece. For what it’s worth, I’d like to ship improved the quality of the Thoroughbred breed, offer my take on the modern phenomenon of top-class and the quality of life for his employees and the people horses making fewer starts than their counterparts of of Dubai. We were very happy that he was able to earlier times. I must admit, I’m far from convinced that attend the recent Keeneland September yearling sale the modern Thoroughbred has undergone a radical after having been away for many years. We will miss change which has significantly decreased its soundness him very much.” and durability compared to, say, 50 years ago.